AMES, Iowa -- Sheila Jasanoff, professor of science and public policy at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, will give a Presidential Lecture on Thursday, Oct. 26. Jasanoff's talk, "Biotechnolgy's Moral Compass: The Comparative Politics of Bioethics," will be at 8 p.m., in the Sun Room of the Memorial Union.

Jasanoff is a leader in the emerging field of science and technology studies, in which scholars in humanities and social sciences examine how science and technology shape and are shaped by society, said ISU assistant professor of political science Clark Miller.

"Science and technology are increasingly important in today's society," Miller said. "New capabilities brought to us by technologies, such as biotech and the internet, hold great promise. But they also raise important questions pertaining to ethics and social policy. For example, genetic testing could provide an advanced warning to some people predisposed to a disease, but it also could bring the hammer down on them if an insurance company were to use that information to deny coverage or benefits."

Jasanoff has written extensively on topics of science, technology, law and policy. Her books include: "Science at the Bar: Science, Technology and Law in America," "The Fifth Branch: Expert Advisors as Policymakers," and "Controlling Chemicals: The Politics of Regulation in Europe and the United States." Jasanoff currently is examining the politics of the global environment and the comparative politics of biotechnology in Germany, England and the U.S.

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